Pacers Bikeshare success: 52,000 rides, 1,300 members

About 20 bikes that are part of the city's Pacers Bikeshare program sit outside Bankers Life Fieldhouse.(Photo: Robert Scheer / The Star)Buy Photo

Any doubt Indy would use its first bikeshare program? Question no longer.

In the first three months of the Pacers Bikeshare program, 52,817 rides have been taken, Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. said Monday.

Nearly 1,300 annual memberships have been purchased, and 16,505 24-hour passes were bought.

"Indianapolis' bike culture is growing with the Cultural Trail," said Kären Haley,executive director. "So we knew people were going to ride the bikes, but I would definitely say we are pleasantly surprised."

Dotted throughout the city are 25 stations and 250 bicycles that allow riders to check out bikes, take a pedal and then return them.

The average ride on the bikeshare program lasts 15 minutes, the Cultural Trail said Monday. The three busiest bikeshare stations are at Washington and Meridian streets, Mass Ave. and Alabama Street. and White River State Park.

"New urban dwellers" want to be connected to their city in ways other than cars," Mayor Greg Ballard said when the program was announced in April.

The program has been successful and officials say after the first 12 months they will re-evaluate and consider adding more stations.

Bikes are available by purchasing either a 24-hour pass ($8) or an annual membership ($80). Stations are open from 5:30 a.m. to midnight year round.

With the launch of Pacers Bikeshare, Indianapolis joined other major cities, such as New York, Chicago, Denver, Boston and Washington, D.C., that have similar programs.

The Pacers name? That's due to an undisclosed financial contribution from the Simon family, who owns the Indiana Pacers. Indy's bikeshare is the first in the nation to be connected to a professional sports team, said Karen Haley, executive director of the Cultural Trail.

The Herbert Simon Family Foundation funded the startup costs and will fund the ongoing operations. Another $1 million was given by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

There were only two bikes left at this Indiana Bikeshare hub for Star staffers Amy Haneline and Katie Kutsko. They rode with George Hill during a Pacers Bikeshare ride through downtown Indianapolis on Wednesday, June 18.
Amy Haneline / The Star

On Wednesday morning, George Hill led the Pacers Bikeshare ride along the Cultural Trail in Downtown Indy. The bikers were able to ride for free if they used a promotional code through the Bikeshare program.
Katie Kutsko

The Indianapolis Pacers' George Hill (white shirt) rode with fans on Wednesday, June 18 for the Pacers Bikeshare ride. Bikers were able to ride for free if they used a special promotional code.
Katie Kutsko